Our Story
Back in 2016, European leaders struck a deal with Turkey to curb the flow of "illegal" migration into Greece. The implementation of the EU-Turkey deal came into effect on 20th March 2016. This fateful day saw our fellow human beings seeking safety in Europe, trapped in limbo on five Greek islands - Lesbos, Leros, Kos, Samos and Chios.
Having been active in Chios since January 2016, we witnessed how the conditions in the camps quickly deteriorated as the sluggish asylum process could not keep up with the number of arrivals. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, as the harsh conditions of the camps exposed them to discrimination, sexual harassment and rapes.
Across all cultures, women are the glue holding family units together, and deserve gender-sensitive services while they navigate their way through this complex and challenging situation. At the time, there were only volunteer-led social projects on Chios aimed at mothers with babies, or providing schooling for children. There were no facilities specifically catering to the needs of the women on the island. They had no safe place to gather, to take a break from camp life and to just be themselves.
We opened the Athena Centre for Women in July 2016 - a stone's throw away from the camp. not only as a hub from where specific needs of the women refugee population of Chios – legal/psychological/health – are addressed, but a safe space for the ladies to indulge in many simple things in life many of us take for granted - from a hot cup of tea and showering in safety.
From the women who have passed through our doors in Chios, the bonds we forged did not end. For many, their journey in finding safety ends in Greece when they are finally allowed to leave the island to travel to Athens, but there was a crucial lack of services and support adapting them to urban life. As they inspired us with their resilience, we listened to what they needed: It was clear that more needed to be done in Greece to support women at risk of gender-based violence, and who were survivors, with holistic, sustained care for their recovery, resilience and re-integration.
Atalanti, Gabrielle and Nina launched The Pomegranate Project in Athens, to respond differently, to the now different needs of women who were no longer transiting through Greece but remaining in Greece, who need support and care to find homes, jobs, access to services and make new connections and friendships with other women from both the Greek and refugee communities.
Our team is made up of passionate individuals from the Greek and international community of gender-based violence specialists, psychologists, child care providers, case workers, teachers and interpreters, dedicated to the holistic care of survivors and building a better tomorrow with them.
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Gabrielle Tay
FOUNDER - ACTION FOR WOMEN
CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR - THE POMEGRANATE PROJECT -
Atalanti Hadjipateras Moquette
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE - AFW HELLAS
CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR - THE POMEGRANATE PROJECT
Field Team
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Dafni Magkanioti
BASIC IT LITERACY TEACHER
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Evangelia Tsipi
PSYCHOLOGIST
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Iliana Zachou
SOCIAL WORKER
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Kallianna Maniati
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST
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Lara Chatzigiannakidou
FRENCH/LINGALA COMMUNITY LIAISON
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Mariangela Psyrraki
SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR
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Nena Zoi
GREEK TEACHER
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Pitsa Marianna Hadjipateras
GREEK TEACHER
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Porfyria Moschopoulou
ART DIRECTOR
Partners and Sponsors
Since we began our work in 2016, Action for Women has formed fruitful partnerships and collaborations with various actors, including women's rights and GBV organisations active in Greece, to strengthen our support for women in need of various services, and avoid duplication of resources in order to improve our collective reach and impact. We are also grateful to our sponsors who share our vision to support refugee and asylum seeking women's recovery, resilience and re-integration.
